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Located at the southeast corner of Logan Avenue at Chambers Street in Winnipeg, this two-storey structure was designed by local architect Vere Barton and built in 1905 by contractor D. Rouchin for owner William Benjamin Oakley (1878-1957) at a cost of $8,000. The brick building measured 50 feet by 32 feet, with commercial space on the ground floor and a single residence above.
William Benjamin Oakley was born at Guisborough, England on 1 December 1877, son of James Oakley (1849-1922) and Elizabeth Oakley (c1850-1896) and was brought by his family (including two sisters) to Canada in 1878. The Oakley resided at 662 Logan Avenue in Winnipeg by 1896, at the time of Elizabeth’s death. In 1902, William commissioned a residence at 691 Logan Avenue and married Elizabeth Dorothy “Lizzie” Kreller (1878-1959) of Mount Forest, Ontario at Winnipeg on 24 August 1904. They had four children; Gladys Elizabeth Oakley (1905-?), Hazel Marjorie Oakley 1907-?, wife of Frederick DeWitt Clinton), Irene Retta Oakley (1909-?), and Dorothy May Oakley (1920-?, wife of Douglas Arthur Clarke). Around late 1907, William moved his own family here while also renting out two suites. He also operated a butcher shop on the ground level. In 1912, William and family moved to 180 Cathedral Avenue, later moving next door to 182 Cathedral prior to 1921. He gained employment with the Federal Government, working as an immigration officer until retirement around 1932. His postings included being stationed at the Dominion Post Office Building at Emerson (1926). They retired to British Columbia around 1940. He died at Victoria on 10 October 1957 and his cremains buried at Royal Oak Burial Park in Saanich.
After the Oakleys moved to their new quarters on Cathedral, the upper floor of the Oakley Block was converted into a four-suite apartment and gained the new address of 269 Chambers Street to help differentiate it from the remaining two ground-level storefronts of 670-672 Logan. The building was later acquired by contractor Nicholas “Nick” Hawryluk (c1897-1969). His properties passed to his wife Tekla Hawryluk (c1902-1974) who in turn sold them prior to her death. The structure was demolished in the 1970s.
Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.90805, W97.15346
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Vere Barton (1864-1923)
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 697/1902, City of Winnipeg Archives.
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 2540/1905, City of Winnipeg Archives.
Charles E. Goad Company fonds, Fire Insurance Plans of the City of Winnipeg - Volume 1 - Sheet 71 - revised August 1906, Library and Archives Canada.
Charles E. Goad Company fonds, Fire Insurance Plans of the City of Winnipeg - Volume 1 - Sheet 71 - revised May 1914, Library and Archives Canada.
Archives of Manitoba fire insurance plan collection / Western Canada Fire Underwriters Association - Volume 2 - Winnipeg - Sheet #250, Archives of Manitoba.
1916, 1921, and 1926 Canada censuses, Library and Archives Canada.
1901, 1906, and 1911 Canada censuses, Automated Genealogy.
Birth registrations [Gladys Elizabeth Oakley, Hazel Marjory Oakley, Irene Retta Oakley, Dorothy May Oakley], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Marriage registrations [William Benjamin Oakley and Elizabeth Dorothy Kreller, Hazel Marjorie Oakley and Frederick De Witt Clinton], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Death registrations [Elizabeth Oakley, James Oakley], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Death registration [William Benjamin Oakley, Elizabeth Dorothy Oakley], British Columbia Vital Statistics.
180 and 182 Cathedral Avenue, Winnipeg Assessment and Taxation Department.
Death notice [Elizabeth Oakley], Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 5 October 1896, page 1.
“Tenders,” Manitoba Free Press, 14 August 1905, page 2.
“[Rooms to let - also furniture for sale. Oakley Block ...],” Manitoba Free Press, 29 April 1907, page 17.
Obituary [James Oakley], Manitoba Free Press, 25 October 1922, page 10.
“Clinton - Oakley,” Manitoba Free Press, 21 October 1927, page 10.
“Galt youth fatally hurt beneath train,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 August 1932, page 5.
“Around the town [Term imposed on Selkirk man cut by Appeal Court],” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 May 1933, page 2.
“Must serve 6 months for causing injury,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 11 May 1933, page 2.
Obituary [Alfred Oakley], Winnipeg Tribune, 8 February 1939, page 2.
“Clarke - Oakley,” Winnipeg Free Press, 21 December 1939, page 8.
Obituary [Barney Kreller], Winnipeg Free Press, 27 April 1944, page 2.
“Beaten man, 72, dies,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 October 1969, page 14.
Winnipeg estate files (ATG 0025A), 1994/69 - Nickolas Hawryluk, GR4505, Archives of Manitoba.
Obituary [Tekla Hawryluk], Winnipeg Free Press, 25 February 1974, page 25.
Winnipeg estate files (ATG 0025A), 1176/74 - Tekla Hawryluk, GR4937, Archives of Manitoba.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
Preparation of this page was supported, in part, by the Gail Parvin Hammerquist Fund of the City of Winnipeg.
We thank Gordon Goldsborough for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 31 July 2023
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